Ignition-timer for internal-combustion engines.



, F. C. MASON. IGNITION TIMER PoR INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB.23,1909.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

A Il UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS C. MASON, OF GRAND RAPIDS,` MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEO M. SHANAHAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

IGNITION-TIMER FORv INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F nANcis C. MASON, a citizen of the United. States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition -Timers for Internal- Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in ignition timers for internal combustion engines and its object is to provide a device compact and neat in appearance and having the smallest possible frictional resistance, and wear on its contact points and also lto provide means for regulating` the length of time which the contact points are in communication, and to provide the device with various new and useful features hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in *the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the cover removed disclosing contact rollers and lower bearing; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the device; Figl is a horizontal sectional detail showing a fixed insulated cont-act roller and radially movable ground contact roller in communication; and, Fig. 5 is an elevation of the rotating member which carries the radially movable ground contact roller.

1 is a ring forming part of the case and made of some insulating material preferably hard fiber. Any desired number of Xed contact rollers 7 are provided, four being shown, corresponding to the number of cylinders on the engine with which the timer is used, the ring 1 insulating theserollers from the rest of the device and from each other.

2 and 3 are the upper and lower closures of the case respectively each containing a cup 12 which forms a. part of the ball bearings in which the rotating member 9 is journaled. The cones 11 of these bearings are carried by the member 9 and the balls 13 which are interposed between the cups 12 and cones 11 are provided with any desired form of retaining' ring, not shown, to prevent the balls being scattered or misplaced Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23, 1909.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

Serial No. 479,403.

when the device is disassembled. The object and advantage of using a bearing both above and belonT the contact rollers is to overcome the wabbly or uneven motion of the rotating member which occurs in case only one bearing is used especiallygafter said bearing becon'ies slightly worn. AThis uneven motion materially interferes with the adjustment of the contact rollers.

The insulated contact rollers 7 are supported with their circumferences each an equal distance from the axis of the device and j ournaled in yokes 6, each of which terminates in a binding post 5 extending through the insulating ring 1.

8 is a removable bolt forming a journal for the roller 7.

The ground contact roller 10 is supported in the rotating member 9 and is journaled in a block 18 'which is laterally slidable in the rotative member9. The said block is cylindrical in shape and is yieldingly forced outward by the spring 19 until it comes in contact with the head of an adjusting screw 14, which head overlaps the circumference'of the block 1.8 and formsca stop for the same. rotated, the roller 10 comes in contact with the rollers 7, thus successively closing the circuits from the various cylinders. The roller 1() and the block 1S yield radially to let ythe roller 10 pass the rollers 7, and then move out again until stopped by the screw 14. To adjust the time of contact the screw 1l may be turned in or out thus shortening or lengthening the time of contact of the rollers. A set screw 22 is provided to engage and hold the screw 14 in adjusted position. The `pin 2O serves as a journal for the roller 10, and one end of this pin extends out-ward and slides in a slot 21 to prevent the block 18 from turning in the member 9.

17 is a shaft driven bythe engine and vproperly timed. It is inserted in the lower end of the member 9 of the timer and gives motion thereto revolving the same within the case. The lower end of the member 9 is split in several places' to allow it to spring in or out, projects through the axis When theV member 9 isv of the head 3, and is provided with a taperf dispensing with a key or set screw, which isl apt to throw the revolving member and' 2.

shaft out of line. in case the shaft 17 is too small to fill the opening provided, a bushingor packing may be interposedu An arm 4 formingI part of the case is provided with a hole or eye to receive the usual device which holds the case from revolving and shifts it about its axis to advance or retard the contact.

l t will be seen that the circle traveled by the roller l0. being of the smallest possible diameter, will give a comparatively low peripheral speed at the contact points.

That I claim is :h

l. An ignition timer, comprising a case formed of a ring of insulating material, closures detachably secured to the ring and recessed to receive ball cups, a rotative member in the axis of the case and having a transverse opening' extending across its axis and nearly therethrough, a block movable in said opening, cones on said member, balls between the cones and cups, a roller carried b v the block, a spring to move the block and project the roller slightly outside the periphery of said member, and insulated contactmembers mounted on the inside of the ring' and successively engaged by the roller.

Au ignition timer, comprising a case having insulated contact members pr0jecting inward from its circumference, a roller in each contact member, a rotating member in the axis of the case, a radially movable block in said member, a roller journaled in the block and engaging the rollers of said contact members successively, a spring engaging the block to move the same outward, and an adjustable stop to limit the outward movement of the block.

3. An ignition timer, comprising a case having inwardly projecting insulated contact members, a rotative member in the `axis of the case and provided with a radial slot and a transverse opening, a block movable in said opening, a spring to move the block outward, a roller journaled in the block, a pin forming a journal for the roller and projecting` Within t'lie slot, and an adjustable stop to limit the movement of the block.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

rnANcis o. Mason. Witnesses:

GEORGIANA CHACE, LUTHER V. MoUL'roN. 

